Myths and Misconceptions of the Human
Behavioral Response to Disasters
Dr. Joseph E. Trainor
University of Delaware
Disaster Research Center (DRC)
School of Public Policy and Administration
Who am I?
An Academic
– Sociologist by training
– Assistant Professor in a School of Public Policy
– Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center
But
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Have been to numerous disaster sites
Analyses of organizations, systems, and individuals.
Basic Research and Applied Research
Grants from Scientific agencies
Contracts from applied agencies
The Disaster Research Center?
DRC focuses on disasters at the systems, group,
organizational, and community level
In this tradition, the center has conducted field and
survey research on response to and recovery from
natural and technological disasters as well as many
other community-wide crises
DRC focuses on large scale, rapid onset, geographically
bound events. The center has carried out systematic
studies on a broad range of disaster agents, including
hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous
chemical incidents, plane crashes, and civil disturbances
and riots.
Where do we do our work?
Although the bulk of our work is now done at the
University of Delaware, since the Center’s inception we
have conducted nearly 600 field studies, traveling to
communities throughout the United States and to a
number of foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada,
Japan, Italy, and Turkey
Faculty and staff are also very active in the national and
international disaster research communities at both the
academic and practical level through conference
participation and consultation
The DRC Resource Collection
DRC serves as a repository for materials, focusing on
the social science aspects of disasters, collected by
other agencies and researchers. DRC's specialized
collection is the world's most complete collection on the
social and behavioral aspects of disasters--now
numbering more than 60,000 items. This resource is
open to both interested scholars and researchers and
agencies involved in emergency management.
DRC also has its own book, monograph, and report
series now numbering over 400 publications.
Graduate Programs
Sociology
Energy and Environment
Civil Engineering
Disaster Science and Management
– Terminal M.S
– Thesis M.S
– Ph.D.
What are “ Disaster Myths” ?
Over the last half century many behavioral
studies have been conducted on how
people respond to disasters in the USA .
In the process of conducting those studies
social scientists noticed a number of
misconceptions, misinterpretations, and
false assumptions about how people
respond.
Researchers have begun to refer to these
observations as “disaster myths”.
Why do we Believe the Disaster
Mythology?
Most of us have little direct
experience with real disasters.
The primary source of information in the
USA is Media.
– We believe that what we see on tv and
in print is “reality”
– These images are reinforced by pop
culture and other media sources.
A Caveat on the Term “Myths”
Before we talk about “myths” it is important
to review a few limitations of the paradigm
1. These observations are meant to illustrate
the broad patterns in response not to say
these never happen. The “myth” is that
these are common responses it is not a
suggestion that these things never happen.
2. Most were developed looking at “disasters”
there is room for reevaluation in
catastrophes.
3. Under “special conditions” some of these
broad patterns may not hold true.
So….
With the proper Caveats given I was asked to
discuss some myths of the human behavioral
response to disasters.
This is not and exhaustive list. It is simply a
selection of issues based on historic and recent
finding that illustrate a few inconsistencies in
expectation and empirical findings.
More than anything the list is meant to make
people think about the assumptions they bring to
the creation of a system.
Myth #1- Organizations are the
First Responders
Myth: When disasters occurs people will
need organizations to take over in order
to bring order to the chaos of a disaster.
Consequences: Individuals and unofficial
organizations are often seen as an
inconvenience to be “dealt with.” If they
cannot be integrate they must be “pushed
off the pile.”
Reality: Extensive studies have shown
that convergence and helping behavior
are very typical responses to disasters.
Particularly in the case of major events
the resources that are brought provide a
substantial proportion of total capacity.
Sometimes effectiveness if more
important than efficiency. The excess
resources can allow for effective albeit
inefficient responses.
Myth #2-Alerts Cause “Mass
Panic”
Myth: When disasters occurs victims will
panic and engage in any behavior deemed
necessary at the moment to facilitate
escape.
Consequences: warnings are delayed until
deemed absolutely necessary in order to
avoid panic
Reality: Extensive studies have shown that
the greater issue is fighting what we
sociologist call “normalcy bias” think about
the last time you heard a fire alarm go off in
a building. Did you run for the door?
Probably not.
Myth #3- People Who Don’t Comply with
Recommendations are Irrational or “Stupid”
Warning Process (Donner, 2007: Modified version
of Mileti and Sorenson):
 Receive the Warning-People must physically receive a
warning.
Understand the Warning-Once people receive a warning
they must be able to process the message and understand
what it means.
Believe the warning is credible-People must believe that
the source of the warning is reliable and the threat could
materialize
Confirm the threat-People must take steps in order to verify
that the threat described in the warning is real.
Personalize the threat-People must believe that the threat
is something that can potentially effect them.
Determine whether or not protective action is neededPeople need to decide if they need to take action.
Determine whether protective action is feasible-People
need to decide if they are able to take action.
Decide if you have the Resources to Take Protective
Action- Finally people need to have the resources to actually
do what is required
Myth #4: Disasters Lead to Widespread
Social Breakdown and Looting
Myth: Looting is widespread in
the aftermath of disasters.
Consequences: National Guard
and other valuable resources
are diverted to “maintain order.”
People refuse to leave
dangerous locations for fear of
their homes being looted.
Reality: Looting in disasters is a
rare occurrence. When it does
occur it is most often a reflection
of existing social forces not
breakdown. It is more likely to
see appropriating or “pro-social”
behavior.
Myth #5- Contagion
Myth: People who converge
on disaster sites may not
arrive with bad intentions, but
after arriving get caught up in
the crowd and engage in anti
social behavior.
Reality: People converge on
the scene of disasters for
many different reasons. It is
very rare that a person would
simply be swept into a crowd
mentality.
Myth #6-Psychological
Dependency
Myth: It is often though that
survivors at the scene of a
disaster are too “out of it” to know
what to do without direction.
Consequences: It is often thought
that formal systems are needed
and that these responders are not
a reliable resource.
Reality: Survivors are the real first
responders. Many studies have
shown that in the wake of disaster
it is other victims that provide
primary assistance.
Myth#7- Role Abandonment
Myth: After disasters public
servants will be too focused on
their homes and families to deal
with other people’s problems and
just will not show up to work.
Consequences: Politicians and
local leaders focus attention on
how to convince people to stay
and do their jobs.
Reality: Again this is relatively
rare. The reality is responders
have better info. Know if they are
safe and can make more informed
protective decisions. Also tend to
be a committed group.
Myth #8- Coordination is Mostly a
Technical Problem
Myth: The reason that people and
agencies have difficulty working
together just has to do with
radios, terminology, and
Consequences: EM agencies
have focused on only technical
solutions such as 800mhz radios
and NIMS.
Reality: There are many reasons
people do not coordinate. It has
been found that most of these
have to do with trust, familiarity,
and common expectations .
Knowing people is as important
as learning systems.
Myth #9-Plans and Planning are
the Same Thing
Myth: The goal of creating
EOPs , COOP plans, recovery
plans, etc. is having a
document to refer to in a
disaster.
Consequences: Agencies
trade plans and swap names,
do little to review and adjust,
and the documents collect
dust more than they ever help
anyone.
Reality: Plans are really only
good for meeting legislative
mandates. The process of
planning is what actually
provides most of the value
added.
Insert Your
Name Here
Insert Your
Seal Here
Congratulations on your New
Plan!
Myth #10-More policies, managerial
control, and rules lead to better
response
Myth: Organizations and the
logic of rules are always better
during disasters than human
intuition.
Consequences: After major
disasters the way to avoid the
same situation in the future is to
make new plans, policies, and
rules.
Reality: It is important that all
responses balance discipline and
agility. This means that some
elements will be scripted but that
others will need to be
improvised.